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Speaking of Fiare, we just had another grand adventure. We climbed Mauna Loa. The paved road ends at 3,353M (11,000 feet). The big challenge is to start at sea level and go all the way up. My friends at the bike store advised against that for a first go since I have never ridden at altitude. They recommended I start at the road that turns off the main highway. The start altitude is about 2,000M (~6,500 feet). The road is 30 km long (a little less than 15 miles) one way and the climb is 1,353M (~3,500 feet). The average grade is about 4.5%. While not the longest ride I have done, it was easily the most physically and mentally demanding. It is all uphill and there are some 8% grades in the last part of the ride to make this even more fun. I was riding at altitude so breathing was tough. It was cold. I had long sleeves and full finger gloves. I actually stayed pretty warm going up since you work bloody hard.
This was a group ride. We started with 4 and ended with 2 (don't worry, the other turned around). It took me a little under 3 hours to make the ascent. Whether that is good or bad, I don't know, but I am satisfied that I made it. Having the other rider pushed me to make it. I really believe I would have turned around at several points had I gone solo.
The top was interesting. No plants, no birds, no noise except the wind and whatever noise you make. The slopes of these volcanoes have been used for astronaut training for the lunar landings. The also simulate what a biosphere on Mars or the Moon might be like. While the utter barrenness offers a unique beauty, I am glad to live among the plants and animals of our biosphere.
Going down was fun! Like an hour long rollercoaster ride. At the bottom the other rider was done but I had a little more in me. I rode on the highway to another park and back to make for a 75km ride in total.
Dawn - There was just the smallest sliver of a nearly new Moon which can be seen if you zoom on the photo...
This was the starting point. The kipuka. A kipuka is an island of land that was surrounded by lava. These can be interesting because sometimes evolution takes some interesting turns in these isolated spots. The kipuka will be used as a reference to show progress of the ride.
Various rest stops.
Way, way, off in the distance is Hilo, my hometown...
Couple more rest stops. The elevation is painted onto the road pavement.
The top of the road. Made it!
After the descent, I found this line of cumulus clouds interesting...

First reading 153!
Washed hands 133.
I think that we pay days later from what we eat. Monday I had leftovers from the Super Bowl party and I think that the carbs take a time to work trough your bowels.
On a humorous topic. The last two days it has been up in the sixties and tonight we are getting an ice storm, yesterday there were many people that I saw that were walking around without jackets on and that brought to mind this meme that was circulating on Facebook.

123
Monday morning should be interesting to see who stuck to their diet during "The Game." I all ready declared a "for the heck of it night" I'm not a big fan of football but I have been invited to a Super Bowl party. I don't like the Roman numerals after Super Bowl because I remember the first, I think the numerals just rubs in how old I am.

A 101 (5.61) today. Tonight, it's supposed to drop down to 0°F (-18°C), with winds blowing at 24 mph (38.6 kph). That results in a wind chill of -23.7°F (-30.9°C). Now that's my kind of weather! Heck, I might even go outside and sit on my porch and just listen to the wind blowing, although at those temperatures, I'll probably need to put on a long sleeve shirt over my tee shirt, and put the hood up on my zippered hoodie.☺️
While a lot of people would have a hard time being outside in weather like that, I'd have a hard time being outside in the weather that Lee is experiencing. If it was that hot here in the summer, it would probably kill me.

whew! i've been away. 😑 (and not liking these new emojis)
had an ear surgery on tuesday. BG fasting was 5.2, then stayed just a bit elevated at 6 for several hours. I am guessing it was from the stress of the surgery. Fasting on wednesday was 92.
So my theory was right ...in that my period started yesterday....and my BG (4 hours after eating) was 80. My fasting this morning was a first... 78.
It's amazing how the hormonal stuff, period stuff and BG stuff is so interconnected. My period still isn't regular, and I can see that my BG rises when it's late. And it drops when my period is on time and also just when it starts. To think, as a teen, I didn't take all the missed cycles seriously...had no idea PCOS was wreaking havoc on my body.
p.s. At the doctor's, I met a 20 year old T2D who's had PCOS since she was 13. She is trying to lose over a 100 pounds. She did have the full T1 antibodies panel done, and it was negative. So she's definitely T2. And we were just talking about how much people are blamed for inflicting Diabetes on themselves. With every passing month and year, we learn that T2d is not a self inflicted disease. Fatness does not cause it. I felt for her, getting a diagnosis in her 20s. At least I had several more years of carefree eating. So many things I took for granted...I no longer can with Diabetes. Sure that is good for my diabetes struck body, but I also understood that her diagnosis was distressing for her at her age. It was no easier for me at 30. The good news is her A1C fell to 5.5 from 8, after she started keto. I told her about Dr. Bernstein too. Hope she'll read his works.

7.4
I woke up feeling cold & pulling the sheet up over me wasnt enough... could that be summer is leaving us?
Today is only to be 34C/93F
It is sad to see the after effects of fire. I know the bush will return, but the animals have suffered.

153
I'm my own worst enemy. I figured out why my readings were "off" the last few days. I decided a month ago to start drinking my coffee black. To save calories, money, for convenience, etc. After four weeks I still don't like it. So Sunday night when I was about to set up the coffee maker for in the morning I thought why, you don't like it. So I didn't have any coffee at home the past two mornings. I always take my morning pills with my last sip of coffee. So Monday and Tuesday I had some heartburn and I couldn't figure out why. Then it hit me. I had not taken my oral meds for two days because I hadn't had coffee and just walked right out the door and forgot. Including a Prilosec for reflux. Doh!!!!! I swear if I do one little thing different than my normal routine, I forget something. Like getting to work and realizing I don't have my wallet a couple times a year. My mind isn't want it used to be. Age is a thief.

Not sure what brand of sesame sticks you had, but quick check online. First ingredient: wheat flour carbs per 1 oz 15. And they looked so innocent.
I just believe things that make you want to munch are full of carbs. 😩

My reading this morning was 121
Saturday we had an ice storm here in Connecticut and around 10 PM I stuck my head out of the door and took this picture of the moon shinning through the ice covered trees.